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The Lavender Roads

Lavender is inextricably linked to Provence.

Place I was dreaming about and I have always wanted to visit, to see and to feel waving blue-mauve fields of lavender. I became devoted friend of lavender, bouquets, cosmetics, perfumes, aroma diffusers for sleeping, kids love soaps and scented pillows ... not to mention about putting it into craft and creative cuisine this year.

More than 30 species are found all over the world. Well known for her therapeutic qualities of lavender - soothing, disinfecting, healing and of course its use in aromatherapy. Two kinds grow wild in Provence: lavender and lavandin. Fine or True Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)found in the arid limestone mountains, growing between 500 and 1800 meters altitude. It is a right place to find lavender honey, made by the bees that frequent the wild purple-budded bushes growing near their hives. Fine lavender is made up of different individual plants, which explains the notion of "population lavender", see picture below. Distillation of fine lavender produces the famous essential oil labelled "lavande fin AOC". It is quite sought after by perfume - makers and laboratories. Production of fine lavender is a French speciality.

Spike or Aspic Lavander (Lavandula latifolia)grows on the chalky soil, between 100 and 700 meters altitude. It is not widely grown in France, important fields are in Spain. Spike lavender has a strong camphor smell and use is more restricted, mainly for pharmaceutical industry. Due to pollination, fine lavander and spike lavender are naturally interbred, which gives rise to a hybrid:Lavandin ( Lavandula latifolia x Lavandula angustifolia)the qualities inherent to lavandin-homogeneity, hardiness and productivity, have led to strong growth in the lavandin crop, for the soap industry and other industries.

Lavander DrinksTraditional one, sirup with water: 1 volume of sirup for 5 till 7 volumes of waterKir, aperitif glass:with brut or champagneCheers!Lavender and its place in the treatment:- Insomnia (2-3 drops on the pillow), headaches (massage on the temples), stress (5-6 drops in the bath) . Lavender is calming.- Wounds and burns (1-2 drops), dry eczema (2-3 drops on a cotton to pass on the plates without rubbing), pressure sores, sunburn, insect bites. Lavender is disinfecting and healing.- Colds and sinusitis (1-2 drops inhalation). Lavender is anti-inflammatory agent.- Sore throat (1-2 drops on a sugar or a spoonful of honey).- Contractures and rheumatism (a few drops in friction). Lavender is relaxant and calm the pain.- Lice (1 drop behind the ears Prevention), intestinal parasites (1 drop on a sugar three days of cure).

Shopping. This time I wanted to try something new and original. It is very easy to get kids to wash hands with Lavender soap, so it was a classic lavender soaps, candles, tea, nature lavender oil and natural softener for clothes for its aromatics and relaxing effects. Whenever changing bed linen I am refreshing with lavender water now!